Welcome to my blog for reviewing the best Mexican restaurants and food in Orange County, CA. I intend to cover as many as I can . . . and all sorts and price ranges: "From taco trucks to fine dining . . . and everything inbetween." Newer entries tend to focus on photos more than words. Number of restaurants covered so far: 268+. See The List

Is anyone interested in a restaurant review at this restaurant review blog? My records show me that it's been over two months since I've posted my own review of a restaurant I haven't been to before. I actually do get out and try new places still but I've also had a lot of other things to post in the last couple months. This review is actually dedicated to the the professional blog commenter known as "Diamond Dog" who demands a lot from the blogs he reads and keeps all us bloggers on our toes, never allowing us to rest on our laurels and sink into apathy.

One of the things Diamond Dog likes to know about is where to find fresh-fried hard-shelled crispy tacos. It just so happens that faithful blog reader Eric H. invited me to meet his family at the Esther's Taco House in Yorba Linda specifically to try their hard-shelled tacos. My friends who live nearby and who have been mentioned here before, James & Lori & Thomas, also came along for the meal. It turns out I was the only one there who hadn't eaten at Esther's before.

Before we get to the tacos I'll point out that the albondigas soup was very flavorful, rich, sinus-clearing, and corn-y . . . in a good way.

The chips were a bit on the greasy side but as not much so as the really greasy chips they have at the Jalapeño's in Irvine with the salsa definitely on the chunky side.

That's my carnitas enchilada with rice and beans above. The food here is very standard, neighborhood-joint-type Mexican food, but, hey, they snazzed things up a little with a pepper on the rice and a tortilla chip in the beans.

That must be Lori's machaca. She always orders machaca. I learned recently that "machaca" originally meant "air-dried beef" but it has come to be known as "shredded beef with scrambled eggs."

And seen above is the taco I ordered a la carte, with its shell freshly fried, stuffed with oddly non-crumbly ground beef (how do they make it like that?), a truckload of fresh lettuce, a couple tomato slices, and mounds of grated cheese.

Nothing is too surprising at Esther's. Most of what they have on their menu is like what can be found elsewhere. If you are in the area it makes a good place to stop by for a bite. It does have Mexican family roots going back to at least 1957 so that's a good thing.

Eric's family gave Esther's a three and a half Speedy Gonzales rating out of five which is also the rating I had in mind:

13 comments:

I've been to Esther's a number of times, since it's about 2 miles from my office. It's one of my standby restaurants when I want some above average Mexican food. Beats the heck out of Acapulco or El Torito any day, but just about any place can do that! I tried to do reviews on 2 separate occasions failing to complete them both times! :)

I would go to this place. thanks for the review. Was the taco good? From your rating I would assume it was. I also judge a restaurant by the salsa they serve with the chips. How was that. I will let you know what I think of this place when I try it. Keep up reviews like this. I love them

The Beef taco is the one item that keeps me coming back to Esther's.........I've never had another taco like it anywhere.......while everything else on the menu is very good.......it's all very similar to what you can find in hundreds of other Mexican restaurants.........except for the beef taco!

Around 1968 my husband and I went to an Esther's Taco House in Downey. As newlyweds, it was affordable and oh so yummy! We still recall the 'hole in the wall' with great Mexican food. Could this one in Placential be related?